MLS fans were treated to four games last night instead of the usual one or two, as the schedule makers begin to crowd in a few more league games in anticipation of international friendlies and late-season CONCACAF Champions League matches. &nbsp;In a cool twist, all four had some playoff implications as the results had a definite impact on positioning for the playoffs and may prove critical down the stretch (although with ten teams making the playoffs that is an easy statement to make).
For those watching So You Think You Can Dance or enjoying an evening free of television, here is a recap of the action from last night.
Vancouver Whitecaps 0, Columbus Crew 1: The ‘Caps continued their miserable inaugural season with a case of what could have been, while Columbus continues to solidify a top three spot based on Jeff Cunningham’s milestone goal. &nbsp;The striker scored his 133rd MLS goal in the 90th minute to not only give his team the victory, but to tie him with Jamie Moreno for the all-time lead in MLS goals. &nbsp;The home team had plenty of chances in the first half, dominating possession but failing to convert, and had a great chance in the second half when Alain Rochat was dragged down in the box in the 72nd minute. &nbsp;However, Terry Dunfield’s penalty was easily saved and, when Shea Salinas was sent off with a red five minutes later, it was a matter of time before the Crew would score the game winner.

New York Red Bulls 5, Toronto FC 0: On their most recent road trip, New York had a record of 0 wins, 1 loss, and 3 draws. &nbsp;They took out their frustration at home against a hapless Toronto side. &nbsp;Thierry Henry scored his ninth goal of the season in the 33rd minute and it was all New York from that point forward. &nbsp;More coming soon from Daniel on this one.
Chivas USA 2, San Jose Earthquakes 0: This match could come back to haunt San Jose as the two teams will be battling for a wild card slot at the end of the season. &nbsp;It was Robin Fraser’s decision to insert Ben Zemanski in the 58th minute that turned the tide and gave the Rojiblancos an energy boost in midfield. &nbsp;His goal (seen above) in the 64th minute broke a scoreless tie and Nick LaBrocca’s strike in the 84th minute put this one out of reach for San Jose. &nbsp;Speaking of the ‘Quakes, they will have to face Philadelphia this weekend without Steven Lenhart, who will miss the game due to yellow card accumulation.
Sporting Kansas City 1, Colorado Rapids 1: Colorado is quickly approaching the Chicago Fire’s tie record and Kansas City extended their unbeaten streak to 9 as these two teams battled to a draw at Livestrong Park. &nbsp;Conor Casey did what he does best in scoring his goal in the 32nd minute: he used his strength to corral a long free kick and placed a shot just out of Jimmy Nielsen’s reach. &nbsp;Again, it was a good substitution by a manager that made the difference, as Peter Vermes brought on C.J. Sapong in the second half for Teal Bunbury and it was the rookie Sapong who scored the equalizer.

Cunningham Milestone Goal Highlights Intense Night of MLS Action

Cunningham Milestone Goal Highlights Intense Night of MLS Action - World Soccer Talk

<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/news/confetti-falls-crowds/image/10427650?term=2011" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view4.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/10427650/confetti-falls-crowds/confetti-falls-crowds.jpg?size=380&amp;imageId=10427650" border="0" alt="Confetti falls on crowds of people gathered Times Square on New Years Eve in New York City on January 1, 2011. UPI/Dennis Van Tine Photo via Newscom" width="380" height="228"></figure></div></a></div>
Happy New Year to all our readers and best wishes in 2011!
The past year was a big one for American soccer. &nbsp;A good but not great World Cup run, a highlight goal from Landon Donovan, and the controversial rehiring of Bob Bradley after the World Cup. &nbsp;A first MLS Cup win by Colorado, the signings of Rafa Marquez and Thierry Henry by New York, but maybe more importantly the rise of young players like Tim Ream, Teal Bunbury, Juan Agudelo, and Andy Najar. &nbsp;The retirements of Jaime Moreno, Brian McBride, and Taylor Twellman as well as the reinvigorating of Kevin Hartman.
And 2011 looks to be another interesting year, with MLS well represented in the CONCACAF Champions League as well as welcoming two new teams into the league. &nbsp;Will LA be able to finally turn their strong regular seasons into an MLS Cup? &nbsp;Will the young superstars continue their development while a very strong Superdraft be able to contribute right away? &nbsp;And will the Eastern Conference, especially a healthy New York team, be able to even the playing field with a stronger Western Conference? &nbsp;At the national level, can Bob Bradley begin to turn his Gold Cup team into the beginning of the 2014 qualifying team?
We here at MLS Talk are always looking to improve the site and make it the premier destination for discussions about American soccer. &nbsp;The Gaffer, Randy, Daniel, and all of the MLS Talk contributers all contribute great content to the site, but it is never good to stand pat at a website. &nbsp;So I open the floor to you, our dedicated community:
What content do you want to see from the site in 2011?
As part of the EPL Talk Network, we are a part of a number of great sites that present many different features for different leagues. &nbsp;For example, EPL Talk contributer Jesse Chula offers a “Player of the Week” every week while Niccolo Conte at Serie A Talk has a weekly “Five Things” column, among many other features. &nbsp;What kinds of new content would you like to see on the site in 2011? &nbsp;Share your thoughts in the comments section, and we look forward to a soccer-filled 2011!

What Would You Like to See from MLS Talk in 2011?

What Would You Like to See from MLS Talk in 2011? - World Soccer Talk

<div style="float: right;margin-left: 5px"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/sports/seattle-sounders-kansas/image/10017704?term=Josh+WOlff" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view3.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/10017704/seattle-sounders-kansas/seattle-sounders-kansas.jpg?size=234&amp;imageId=10017704" border="0" alt="KANSAS CITY, KS - OCTOBER 09: Josh Wolff of the Kansas City Wizards kicks the ball during a match against the Seattle Sounders at Community America Ballpark in Kansas City, Kansas on October 9, 2010. The Sounders won 2-1. (Photo by Josh Umphrey/Getty Images)" width="234" height="357"></figure></div></a></div>
Recently my computer ran into a series of issues that has rendered it incapacitated and made me realize its place in my life. &nbsp;It loads slowly and lacks many of the modern amenities in many computers, but when working properly it is has enough memory to run fairly quickly and is perfect for the tasks for which I need it, mainly posting to this site, running my fantasy teams, and doing other mundane tasks like email and social media. &nbsp;I mention this because my computer is a lot like the MLS re-entry draft: the pieces available aren’t going to wow your friends and make you the envy of the league, but drafting right can give you the piece that is perfect fit for your club.
As with any draft, some teams were able to land the piece that is right for them while some whiffed on their picks. &nbsp;As such, below are my winners and losers from today’s draft with one caveat. &nbsp;Teams have a week to negotiate with their selections and failing to sign them allows the team to hold their rights, so there could be trades and non-signings over the next week which could alter these rankings, so check back for changes.
Winners
Los Angeles Galaxy: The team showed the aggressiveness and willingness to spend wisely that so many clubs refuse to do. &nbsp;Seeing former Arena-coached player Juan Pablo Angel sitting undrafted after three picks, the team traded its fourth round pick in the Superdraft to Houston for the fourth pick and picked up Angel from New York. &nbsp;The forward has scored 61 goals in the past four seasons, so he is definitely still a contributer for the Galaxy. &nbsp;Adding Angel to pair with Edson Buddle upfront or being the scoring option off the bench makes the Galaxy the early 2011 Supporters Shield favorite. &nbsp;Plus they picked up a needed young midfielder with their original pick.
Chivas USA – The club that lost its big-name star in Jonathan Bornstein this summer and missed the playoffs got the chance to finally replace him by taking Jimmy Conrad with the second pick. &nbsp;It gives the team a veteran defender and a player who can help them begin the climb back to the playoffs in a loaded Western Conference.

Colorado Rapids – The defending champs publicly said they were going to <a href="http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2010/12/unlikely-be-active-re-entry-draft" target="_blank">focus on the Superdraft and international market</a> for club improvements. &nbsp;However, the club picked up veteran defender Tyrone Marshall with the last choice in the first round, good depth for a team that needed defending depth. &nbsp;Now if they can keep Omar Cummings they may be set.
Major League Soccer – As part of the new CBA the organization created this odd draft system where players with a certain playing time can become sort of free agents. &nbsp;This makes the “win” side because it gives MLS a little press in the slow winter months.
Losers
MLS fans who like Ronaldinho – The unhappy AC Milan star and LA have been negotiating behind the scenes for weeks now about a possible move to the Galaxy where the Brazilian would be the team’s third designated player. &nbsp;The selection of Juan Pablo Angel could endanger that depending on how negotiations go. &nbsp;If Angel is the team’s third designated player, then Ronaldinho or another big-name international star loses that slot.
D.C. United – Going into this draft process, D.C. United clearly needed two things: offense and defense. &nbsp;The club has eschewed defense with its two picks of Joseph Ngwenya in the first part of the draft and today with Josh Wolff. &nbsp;But the club passed on a ton of bigger named players who might have had a more definite impact. &nbsp;Consider this: United this offseason released Danny Allsopp, who had five goals for the club. &nbsp;The two re-entry selections had a combined three goals in 2010. &nbsp;A disappointing draft.
Jaime Moreno: &nbsp;If Jaime Moreno decides he still wants to play, and at times he has hinted as much, his chances took a hit today as he went undrafted and enters the free agent pool. &nbsp;But more importantly Jeff Cunningham was taken by the rebuilding Columbus Crew, who needed a veteran striker. &nbsp;Now Cunningham will have a chance to pass Moreno in the all-time MLS scoring list for good, a nice honor for the veteran but a misfortune for the current record holder.
Guillermo Barros Schelotto – The 2008 MVP went unselected over two rounds and is now a free agent. &nbsp;Ouch.
Who are your winners and losers from this draft?

Winners and Losers of the First MLS Re-Entry Draft

Winners and Losers of the First MLS Re-Entry Draft - World Soccer Talk

<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/sports/chicago-fire-chivas-usa/image/9974914?term=Brian+McBride" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9974914/chicago-fire-chivas-usa/chicago-fire-chivas-usa.jpg?size=500&amp;imageId=9974914" border="0" alt="CARSON, CA - OCTOBER 23: Brian McBride of the Chicago Fire flicks the ball past Zach Thornton of Chivas USA for a goal in the first half during the MLS match on October 23, 2010 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)" width="441" height="289"></figure></div></a></div>
Jaime Moreno was not the only big-name retiree this weekend; the Chicago Fire said goodbye to American soccer legend Brian McBride and longtime defender C.J. Brown.&nbsp; The club’s overall record was disappointing to fans, but by getting ten points in the last six matches the club has some optimism going into the offseason.
Swedish international Freddie Ljungberg was the star of the show, finishing with a goal and an assist.&nbsp; It was his assist that gained the attention rather than his match-winning goal.&nbsp; In the fortieth minute he provided a cross in the goal area that for the eightieth time Brian McBride slide into the back of the net, this time with his right foot. &nbsp; McBride remained on the field long enough to watch Ljungberg slot the game’s second goal inside the right post to take a 2-0 lead, which was expanded to 4 Fire goals later in the match by Carr (67) and Husidic (90+).&nbsp; Maldonado notched a goal for Chivas, but their season ended as it did so often this season – on the wrong side of the ledger.
McBride, quite possibly the greatest U.S. national player in the past few decades, was substituted off in the 51st minute to applause from the home fans. &nbsp;Rather than rehash his illustrious career in MLS, the national team, and England, I want to just point out some of the amazing highlights (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_McBride" target="_blank">you can see the summary here</a>). &nbsp;He was the first player selected in the MLS Inaugural Draft and went on to be named one of the MLS All-Time Best XI. &nbsp;Since his retirement from international soccer, the US has had problems finding a consistent threat at striker, helping build his international legacy.&nbsp; He is a legend for his first club the Columbus Crew and his hometown team the Chicago Fire, and MLS will lose another major star next year.
McBride was not the only player playing in his last game, however. &nbsp;C.J. Brown, one of the “Fire Originals” selected in the 1998 Supplemental Draft, also played his last match. &nbsp;The defender had a solid international and domestic career, and witnessed all of the Fire’s great moments on the pitch, including one MLS Cup and four U.S. Open Cups.&nbsp; In a testament to his work in the community, Brown also won three Humanitarian of the Year Awards.
The offseason will be a critical one for both clubs.&nbsp; Chicago, who is used to contending for the playoffs, could have only one starter back after a number of retirements, contracts expiring, and unprotected players in the expansion draft.&nbsp; On the other side of the pitch, Chivas fell from four straight playoff appearances to utter miserableness and now face the loss of Jonathan Bornstein to Mexico.
Playoff schedules, analysis, and awards coming later today!&nbsp; Share your Brian McBride memories below in the comments section.

Fire Send Off McBride, Brown in Style

Fire Send Off McBride, Brown in Style - World Soccer Talk

A sparse crowd at chilly RFK Stadium (2,804 announced) wednesday evening witnessed the pieces finally fall into place for a struggling DC United. On a night when the cold weather, local playoff hockey and having an Open Cup match midweek brought only the most hardcore of fans out, those who did make the journey were pleasantly rewarded.
DC United finally started to resemble the fluid passing team that we’re used to seeing. The night was far from perfect for the Black and Red, but when you line it up next to the previous four performances, United came up spades.
It was the Andy Najar, Adam Cristman, Troy Perkins show last night in the district. While United had several notable performances, these three seemed to stand out from the rest.
For Najar, United’s 17 year old prospect who was only recently playing high school soccer, it was something of a coming out party.
The youth from Honduras played the furthest up the pitch of his young career. After seeing Najar start both on the wing and in the center of midfield, we saw him play for the first time as sort of a withdrawn striker.
Najar seemed to effect the match in a positive way almost immediately. His ball control and ability to beat defenders were impeccable. He was also not afraid to shoot, something that has been plaguing United a bit.
Curt Onalfo said he felt Najar was more effective the further he was placed on the pitch.
“The biggest thing I took away from that last game was can we get him farther up the field? And if we can, he’s gonna cause issues. He was dangerous all night. That’s a 17 year old kid that put on a pretty darn good show and that’s very, very impressive.”
Najar and Cristman got things started early on what I guess you could call a “combination chip”. Najar used the outside of his foot to chip the ball over a defender to Adam Cristman, who promptly chipped the ball over the keeper.
This was the club’s first lead in a competitive match this year. United wanted to get off to a good start, that was a point of focus from Onalfo to his club :
“We had a really good start to the game. We talked about that. We wanted to come out and kind of take the game to them, set the tone, get that first goal and we did that.”
Santino Quaranta also felt a good early start was critical :
“I think we came out of the gates well. We finished our chances. I think once you get that first goal it kind of the gets the wind out of the guys. It helped us a lot. I thought that we took our chances well and we were dynamic.”
United controlled the early goings and dominated possession for the first third of the half.
FC Dallas was limited to an occasional counterattack during this time. In the 9th minute, Brek Shea did get a one on one chance with the keeper after an aerial through ball. However, Perkins made his first of many excellent saves on the evening. Perkins in fact, probably had his best match since returning to the nation’s capital.
Towards the middle of the opening half, play began to become bogged down a bit. A lot of sloppy passes were made by both teams as less space was awarded. FC Dallas enjoyed the better possession for a chunk of this middle portion.
Shea was clearly the best player for FCD this occasion. He was key in Dallas getting there offense started on breaks. Also, he was roaming freely around the pitch, making darting runs from the middle and both flanks.
In the 32nd minute, Onalfo was sent off for arguing a foul that was 50 yards from goal. It was not initially clear what the coach did to be sent off :
“I’ve never been ejected before. I feel like I’m very fair and I just objected to the call. And I feel like that’s something I should be able to do in my home stadium. The referees thought otherwise and it is what it is.”
As the half moved along though, DCU began to again dictate the flow of the match. They went up 2 – 0 on something of a strange goal.
Cristian Castillo took a free kick from distance and his curling ball nearly found Cristman’s head. FCD keeper, Kevin Hartman, started shifting his body for the redirect that never came. Instead the ball bounced inside the post past an already committed keeper.
United nearly went up by three just minutes later, as Andy Najar displayed some fancy footwork to get past a defender into the box. However, he was stifled immediately after by defending help. The ball rolled right to Cristman who one-timed it over the bar.
Shea managed one more Dallas chance, but the half ended 2 – 0 United.
The second half started much the same way as the first half, with United scoring and Najar being involved.
United took a 3 – 0 lead on a beautiful combination of passes. After receiving the ball deep in the center, Brandon Barklage one touched a beautiful through ball releasing Cristman on the right. The lead striker then layed a perfect low cross right to Najar, who slotted into a gaping net.
The two nearly teamed up again moments later for another tally. Again, Cristman found himself free on the right flank. This time he chose to loft his cross in. Najar in the same general area as before, headed the ball, but Hartman made a save from close range. Najar then picked up the loose ball and aimed for the upper 90, just 
missing.
Moments later FC Dallas were on the board thanks to Bruno Guarda. The rally continued as a foul in the box led to a penalty, which Dax McCarty calmy converted.
With Dallas putting the pressure on and only down a goal, Clyde Simms was inserted for Kurt Morsink after FCD’s first goal. Having their best defensive midfielder and some needed grit in the center helped shift the momentum back to United.
For Simms, who had been playing on the backline at times, it was nice to be playing in his true position. Asked about whether we’d see him again at right back, Simms joked :
“We’ll see, we’ll see. I hope all our defenders stay healthy. I like the midfield much better.”
Simms helped set up Cristman, who earned a brace on yet another chip shot over Hartman.
With the two goal lead reestablished, Santino Quaranta was brought on for Barklage and eventually Jaime Moreno came on for Cristian Castillo.
United played a possesion game, knocking the ball around the field, keeping the ball away from Dallas for long stretches of the final moments. The additions of Quaranta and Moreno offered veteran leadership and a stabilizing influence on the pitch.
The lineups of both teams were a mixture of starters and youthful reserves, however in Najar’s performance, United got a glimpse of what could become a special talent.
As for the young star, it hasn’t even settled in for him yet. Asked if he was amazed to be scoring goals in high school one minute, then for a professional club the next :
“Yes, I’m a little suprised.”
In the end, United held on for a much needed 4 – 2 victory. Last year’s run also started against FC Dallas. This Open Cup tournament has been kind to the club the last two years, with the exception of last year’s final.
It seemed like United wanted it more, because they needed something to give them confidence. They finally got the monkey off their back. Onalfo acknowledged the fact that winning helps breed confidence :
“Every game you play, you play to win and it makes it even more important when we’ve started the way we’ve started. So for us, getting points and a victory is important for self confidence. They come hand in hand.”
Now the question is, can this momentum and morale lift carry on to Saturday against rival Red Bull New York?

United Back on Course for Another Open Cup Run

United Back on Course for Another Open Cup Run - World Soccer Talk

The question “What’s going on in DC?” has become a recurring one among the fan circles of Major League Soccer. It’s a question that seems to be important to any fan of the game in this country. Whether it be rabidly passionate supporters from the DC, Maryland and Virginia area or just general MLS enthusiasts … in fact even rivals (aka Daniel Feuerstein) are showing their concern.
The bottom line is that DC United is a team that means something in MLS. This has been a cornerstone franchise, the most decorated club and one of the most recognizable. People are used to seeing this team succeed and they have often been a measuring stick that other clubs&nbsp;lined themselves up&nbsp;against. These days are clearly behind United.
There is something disconcerting&nbsp;about seeing a traditional power in any league fall off. It almost seems to somehow take away from the richness of a league. For instance, the Major League Baseball playoffs certainly seem to miss something when there are no Yankees or Red Sox to talk about.
Clearly the thought of a league without DC United is unthinkable to most MLS supporters. Having United basically stink, while not as bad, is also something that has been met with trepidation.
Besides the fact that United is in the worst position of all MLS teams on the stadium front, they are also not helping matters by essentially laying egss in their first four contests this season. The supporters are still showing up, but attendance has been slowly dropping the last several years. Despite this, the club still owns one of the better and more consistent attendance figures in the league.
United’s difficulties with getting a stadium are hardly related to the product on the pitch, but still it certainly isn’t helping. With that being said, let’s focus on the club’s play and not on their gamut of problems regarding where to play.
We’ll start with the back, then work our way up to the front.&nbsp; DC United’s goalkeeping situation is one that has been in flux since the man currently minding the net left after the 2007 MLS season.
Troy Perkins was far from perfect when he first stepped in between the posts for United. However, he slowly began to develop into one of the elite keepers in the league and in the country. Perkins grew with United and eventually found himself awarded the Goalkeeper of the Year honor in 2006.
His subsequent departure following the 2007 campaign, left a void that was filled by various, ultimately unsuccessful experiments for the following two seasons. First was the complete failure with Zach Wells. United traded for Houston Dynamo’s backup to Pat Onstad in a deal that handed over former MLS Defender of the Year Bobby Boswell. It’s clear now who got the better end of that deal.
Wells just flat out never seemed comfortable in goal. In fact, it was very uncomfortable and always nerve wrenching for any DCU supporter to watch him. Needless to say, soon after, the club was on the lookout for a new keeper.
Louis Crayton was brought in from the Swiss First Division and the Liberian international&nbsp;keeper went through his fair share of growing pains early on, but eventually settled in for a relatively solid finish to the year. One thing about Crayton that was apparent from the get go was that he was a bit wild and quick to come off his line, a trait that hurt both him and the team on more than one occasion.
Still, he also offered some magnificent performances for the club, flinging his body to make acrobatic saves on several occasions. However, any momentum that he might have gathered at the end of the 2008 campaign quickly faded away in the 2009 season, which he began on the injury list. Once healthy, Crayton’s starts were horribly inconsistent and this led to some playing time for journeyman Josh Wicks and rookie Milos Kocic.
Wicks ended up stringing together several solid efforts and the club allowed Crayton’s contract to expire midseason. While Wicks was far from a pillar of consistency, he still faired much better than his two predecessors. One problem that really came back to bite him though, was his temper.
Wicks had several altercations as a result of an inability to control his anger. Included in this were not only incidents with the opposing team, but also his own teammates. Wicks famously, or should I say&nbsp;infamously,&nbsp;stepped on Freddy Montero’s groin region during last year’s US Open Cup Final at RFK Stadium. This resulted of course in a red card and an essential gutting of United’s chances at a rally.
Also, during a home match with Chicago Fire, Wicks engaged in a shouting match with left back, Marc Burch. If not for Ben Olsen and others gettting between the two, fisticuffs might have been exchanged. In fact, there was some shoving before the two were seperated.
Occurrences such as this and a nagging shoulder injury led to Wicks being released early this year. Perkins’ return was supposed to stabilize this chaotic situation. While we can’t pin all the blame for 11 goals in four games&nbsp;conceded on the keeper, even Perkins has acknowledged displeasure with his play.
It seems that he is definitely readjusting to life in Major League Soccer and it also may be a sign of the growing quality of the league. Let’s not forget that Perkins was playing in Norway, which while a respectable league, it’s certainly not in the upper echelon of Europe.&nbsp; MLS isn’t inferior to any league that happens to be situated on the European continent.
It might not be long before&nbsp;Perkins is reacclimated to MLS play.&nbsp; In the end, I think&nbsp;he will be more part of the solution than part of continuing problems.&nbsp; Now the backline is a very different story.
For starters, the backline has also shown no sign of stability in the past couple of years. Besides the fact that there is a formation shift, going from three defenders at the back to four, injuries and disciplinary suspensions have kept the line in constant flux. Not only are we seeing a group of different players, we are also seeing said players in different spots along the backline. Almost like a Mr. Potato head of interchangeable pieces.
For instance, we’ve seen Carey Talley, Devon McTavish and even Clyde Simms at right back. Talley has also appeared in the center, next to a variety of partners, including Dejan Jakovic, Juan Manuel Pena and Julius James. Rodney Wallace has been the one constant at left back. While versatility is always a nice trait to have in your players, you’d still like to see a bit more stability in the lineup from week to week.
Injuries were mentioned as a key part in DCU’s current dilemma. Perhaps the one that hurts the most is the loss of right back, Bryan Namoff. Namoff was playing the soccer of his career last season before missing the end because of concussion problems. It’s a new season and he still hasn’t returned to the pitch for United and who knows, he may not this year.
Dejan Jakovic hasn’t helped matters by accumulating cards and being suspended for a match. Carey Talley and Juan Manuel Pena have been brought in, but it appears that their best days have passed them.
In Pena’s case, the La Liga veteran has shown solid knowledge and positioning, however his speed is definitely lacking a bit. We’ve seen him struggle to get back to defend opponents’ counterattacks. He&nbsp;is also&nbsp;injured.
Rodney Wallace may have played left back and done it well at the University of Maryland, but MLS is at&nbsp;a different level and pace of play. It seems as though the second year left – footer is going through an adjustsment period. He’s reacquainting himself with the position after playing as a left winger and holding mdfielder during his rookie campaign. I think eventually Wallace will come into his own at this spot.
While players are dealing with health issues and returning from suspension, it’s important to remember that previous coach Tom Soehn had the club start off the season in a 3-5-2. Then the club switched to a 4-4-2 later in the year. The club did this after acquiring Julius James from Houston Dynamo. James had some solid moments, especially in the CONCACAF Champions League.
It should be stated that DCU knew what they were getting when they made the move for the defender from Trinidad &amp; Tobago. Houston fans had already witnessed it. James is one who has tremendous raw talent and skill. Yet, he is clearly an unpolished product. If James can ever reach his potential, then DC will have a formidable central defender.
One big key to the formation switch is noting how Ben Olsen (retirement) and Clyde Simms (injury) are severely missed. I’m sorry, but asking journeyman Kurt Morsink to cover the same ground as those two is not gonna happen. Morsink is someone who I would consider to be a serviceable reserve option. Granted also, Morsink isn’t technically being asked to cover the same ground as Olsen and Simms, as there is an extra center back now. However, I’d take Olsen and Simms any day over the combination of Morsink and whichever interchangeable part is available to line up next to Jakovic.
Clyde Simms is in my mind, one of the most underrated defensive midfielders in MLS. Until his recent injury problems, he was something of an iron man for DC United, appearing in nearly every fixture. He covers a lot of ground and is a workhorse in the midfield. He&nbsp;was also&nbsp;a key distribution point, building up from the back. Simms has a pretty good long range shot as well.
Ben Olsen is missed is so many ways. First and foremost, he was an inspirational leader on and off the pitch. Olsen for a long time had been an integral part of the club’s locker room chemistry.
On the pitch, age and severe ankle problems took away some of his pace and cutting ability, Olsen still had a lot offer. As mentioned, he no longer had the same speed. This forced a move from his spot on the wing to a role as a holding midfielder.
Olsen excelled at this new position. Playing inside now and alongside the roaming Clyde Simms, Olsen was able to use his intellgence and soccer IQ to help the team. The US National Team veteran played gritty and was key in breaking down opponent’s enterprising moves forward. He was also still&nbsp;very good&nbsp;in link up play.
Having these two in front of the backline helped clog up the midfield, limiting the space opposing teams had to work with. They also contributed to what was a very solid passing midfield.
Moving on to the attack minded players, United lost two of their more creative players this offseason, Fred and Christian Gomez.
Fred was an interesting talent. Personally, I think he had perhaps the best ball control on the team. He’s clearly skilled with the ball at his feet. However, he was plagued by poor finishing.
I can recall countless times when the Brazilian winger / playmaker completely missed a wide open net after being fed in nicely by teammates. With that being said, Fred did provide some of the better service on the team and he always had to be accounted for by the opposing team.
United were at their best the last several years when Gomez (or briefly Marcelo Gallardo) was at the top of his game. United had guys who could put the ball in the back of the net, but Gomez gave them someone who could find his teammate’s through a narrow window and unlock the defense.
One of the things that made Gomez so good at setting up teammates, was that he was not afraid to push forward and create his own shot. At times, it actually seemed as though he looked shot first. Needless to say, I feel he is a player who made others around him better by putting them on in the right positions.
This current United team lacks that. Yes, they have tried to play with a pair of two way players in the center of midfield, as opposed to using a more tradional playmaker. In either formation, you still want a key creative talent in the middle.
While Santino Quaranta is very capable at doing a decent job and perhaps eventually excelling there, I still think that the right wing is his best spot. It’s also clear that United misses something by his abscence there.&nbsp; In fact, while the club has yet to find a solution to their problem, they have played more inspired since sliding Quaranta back out wide and inserting Jaime Moreno in the middle.
Moreno plays well in that creative role, essentially guiding the flow of the attack. The Bolivian MLS legend also seems to partner well with Aussiee striker, Danny Allsopp.&nbsp; Having&nbsp;Moreno on the pitch instantly raises&nbsp;United’s soccer IQ on the pitch.&nbsp; However, because of his age, it’s a delicate balancing act&nbsp;managing his minutes.&nbsp; &nbsp;
Looking at the rest of the midfield and striking corps, I feel that last year’s rookie if the year contender, Chris Pontius, is better suited to playing on the wing as well. Last season, Pontius was sort of a jack of all trades, playing all over the midfield and as a striker.&nbsp; This year, Curt Onalfo initially elected to start Pontius as the lead striker. The early returns seem to show it’s not the best place to deploy him.
It’s still open for debate whether it’s better to have him move around the pitch or stay at one position, both for the club and Pontius’s development as a player.&nbsp; Does&nbsp;United and Pontius benefit more by having him polish&nbsp;the versatility he’s capable of or by having him really sharpen his skills at one spot.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Perhaps he will find some time on the wing with Salvadoran playmaker Cristian Castillo struggling with his form.
Castillo has incredible skill on the ball, yet has struggled to make an impact with United. His ball control even overshadows the ability of the aforementioned Fred.&nbsp; Something that also might be a benefit to both him andhe club is his passing ability. Castillo has a tendency to rely on flashy moves and tries to make the razzle dazzle play, instead of making the simple passes that may be more needed.&nbsp; When he’s focused on linking up fluidly with teammates rather than making the highlight reel, Castillo can be a deadly&nbsp;component to the attack.&nbsp; &nbsp;
Castillo, who has brought large throngs of Salvadoran fans to RFK Stadium is simply too talented stay playing at this current level. He is also going through a period of adjustment.
All this midfield attacking talk leads us to the point of the spear, the players called upon to put on the (literally) finishing touches. DC United parted ways with their leading goal scorer over the past three seasons, Luciano Emilio.
Emilio had seen his productivity drop over each year and the club felt he was being overpaid for what he was producing. While that may be the case, they clearly have a void to fill. Emilio wasn’t a perfect finisher, but he wasn’t afraid to shoot when he had an opening.
That seems to be one of the key problems facing United so far this season. The offense has displayed an ability to get into the attacking third, (even in the 4 – 0 smashing by KC) but has not been able to get off quality shots on goal.
If you think about it, DC United has let go two recent MLS MVP’s, players who were crucial to the club’s ability to score goals. They lost a creative talent who had been with the team for several seasons in Fred and lost franchise staple Ben Olsen to retirement.
You throw in key injuries and you see a team that has a gutted core. A core that perhaps has needed some youthful change for a while.
All this while going through a coaching switch and a change in philosophy on the pitch. MLS does prescribe to a recipe for parity. However, even in this environment, such a vast amount of change doesn’t come without it’s rebuilding and adjustment time. The evidence is on the pitch.
DCU does have some&nbsp;good young talent developing, including 17 year old midfielder Andy Najar. The growth of players such as him, Pontius and Wallace is crucial to the club returning to their former glories.

What Has Gone Wrong with DC United? : League Staple in the Cellar

What Has Gone Wrong with DC United? : League Staple in the Cellar - World Soccer Talk

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Last night at RFK Stadium, Jaime Moreno set an amazing MLS milestone. The Bolivian striker became the first player in MLS history to tally 100 goals and 100 assists.
The feat came at a critical time for United.&nbsp; Moreno’s beautiful curling free quick, met Ben Olsen’s head just seconds into stoppage time and led to the equalizing goal in a 1 – 1 draw with the New England Revolution.
Since the league’s inception, Moreno has dazzled and been an important part of the club game in the States.
At 35, Moreno is certainly not the explosive force he once was. However, he makes up for the lost step with his high football IQ. Jaime &nbsp;always seems to know what to do with the ball. DC United are a better team just by having him on the pitch. And he exhibits great control over the game.
Moreno began his club career at home, in Bolivia. After a couple seasons at Blooming, Moreno moved on to Colombia. There he had a short stint with Indepediente Santa Fe.
In 1994, Moreno made Bolivian hearts proud, becoming the first native of the country to play in the English premiership, with Middlesbrough. There, he came on mostly as a sub, tallying once.
During MLS’ first season, Moreno joined DC United around the halfway point. He made an immediate impact and contributed to the club winning the first two MLS cups. During his second season, he led the league in goals.
From that point on, Moreno became a DCU legend (he briefly returned to Middlesbrough, on loan and one season the the MetroStars). The fans have been known to chant his name, when the Bolivian international isn’t on the field in critical situations.
Moreno is MLS’ all – time leading scorer, ahead of Ante Razov.&nbsp; Jaime is 5th on the all – time assists list, just 1 behind fellow Bolivian Marco Etcheverry (4th) and 29 behind all time leader, the Revs’ Steve Ralston. He shares the highest total of 10+ goals, 10+ assists seasons, with Chivas USA coach Preki (4). He produced this feat, as late as last year, with 10 and 10.
So, for his career, Moreno has 122 goals and 100 assists, in 298 games played (only 20 weren’t starts).&nbsp; He will reach yet another landmark soon, as after two more games, he will have played in 300 MLS league fixtures.&nbsp; &nbsp;And now he has the distinction of being the only player in triple digits, both for finishing and creating goals.
Jaime Moreno … truly an MLS legend.

Moreno's MLS Milestone &#8211; 100 G / 100 A

Moreno's MLS Milestone - 100 G / 100 A  - World Soccer Talk

Moreno's MLS Milestone – 100 G / 100 A

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